How Does Septoplasty Compare with Medical Management for Nasal Obstruction?

Septoplasty is a common surgery for nasal obstruction, but we don't have controlled trials to compare it with medical management. This prompted researchers in the U.K. to randomize more than 300 patients with septal deviation and at least moderate nasal obstruction to septoplasty or to medical management with a nasal steroid and saline spray.

After 6 months, mean improvement in rhinosinusitis symptoms score on a 110-point scale was significantly greater with surgery than with medical management (25 vs. 5 points); the predetermined minimally significant change was 9 points. Surgery complications included severe bleeding (4%), infections requiring antibiotics (12%), altered sense of smell (11%), teeth numbness (11%), changes in the appearance …